The University of Victoria has reached another milestone in its creation of a new Faculty of Health by appointing Tammy Hopper as the inaugural Dean for a five-year term beginning May 1, 2025.
Hopper has a record of supportive leadership, working with complex governance structures, and a history of fundraising and advocacy. Her approachable style, clear commitment to equity, belonging and relationship building, as well as her plans to embed Indigenous pedagogy in the curriculum, make her well-positioned to mobilize support for the future vision of UVic’s Faculty of Health.
I am honoured to be joining the University of Victoria as the Dean of the Faculty of Health and I am excited to work with the faculty, staff and students in the Schools and programs that will comprise the new faculty. Together with Indigenous communities and other partners, we will develop a collective vision that will guide us in our endeavours.”
—Tammy Hopper, inaugural Dean, Faculty of Health
UVic’s new Faculty of Health will help address healthcare challenges locally and nationally by bringing together expertise across campus—through expanded research, academic programs and new and expanded partnership opportunities—that will have far-reaching impacts. Future students can now apply to the new faculty, with the first cohort of students starting in May 2025.
We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Tammy Hopper to UVic starting in Spring 2025. With her extensive post-secondary experience, proven collegial vision and leadership, and demonstrated collaborative approach to health-care programming, Dr. Hopper is exceptionally well-positioned to enhance UVic’s reputation for research and teaching excellence and foster partnerships that address the health-care needs of our broader community.”
—Elizabeth Croft, vice-president academic and provost
Hopper is the current dean of the Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine at the University of Alberta. As a speech-language therapist and professor, her research focuses on improving communication and the lives of individuals with dementia.
The establishment of the Faculty of Health aligns with UVic’s strategic plans and commitment to ʔetalnəwəl | ÁTOL,NEUEL | Respecting the rights of one another and being in right relationship with all things, which focuses on UVic’s relationships with one another, with the lands and waters and with all living beings. By respecting the local Nations and honouring the teachings we each carry with us, we will centre Indigenous ways of knowing and being in teaching, learning, researching, and providing services and wellness that lend themselves to better health outcomes for everyone.
More information about UVic’s new Faculty of Health.
Backgrounder
Dr. Tammy Hopper, an internationally recognized academic leader and award-winning scholar, has been appointed as the inaugural Dean of the Faculty of Health at the University of Victoria. With a distinguished career, she brings extensive experience in program development, interdisciplinary research, and clinical education.
Key Highlights of Dr. Hopper’s Career:
- Hopper began her career as a speech-language pathologist, specializing in improving communication for individuals with dementia. She obtained her MSc in Speech Pathology at Idaho State University (1993); a PhD in Speech and Hearing Sciences at the University of Arizona (2000); followed by a Postdoctoral Fellowship at the National Centre for Neurogenic Communication Disorders (2001).
- Hopper’s 20+ years with the University of Alberta began in 2001, where she served as a professor, scholar, and mentor to a significant number of MSc, PhD and Post Doctoral students. During her tenure, she also served as Vice Provost, Office of the Provost and Vice-President (Academic) (2017-2021) and Dean, Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine (2021-present; Interim Dean 2021-2022).
- From 2001 onwards, Hopper secured multiple research grants from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) and other organizations like Health Research Board of Ireland, Alzheimer Care Research Grant, Alberta Addictions and Mental Health Research Partnership Program. Additionally, she has published extensively in top journals, including the British Medical Journal and the American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology.
- Service and Advocacy remain constant themes in Hopper’s career. She has served on boards of organizations related to her research, including the Alzheimer Society of Alberta, Heart and Stroke Foundation, Northwest Territories and the Alberta Association on Gerontology. Hopper is a certified member of the Alberta College of Speech-Language Pathologists and the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association.
- Hopper has been a longstanding advocate for advancing EDI and Indigenous Engagement. In her current role as Dean of the Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine at the University of Alberta she has participated in the Black Academic Excellence Cohort Hire Initiative, expanded program enrollment to rural Alberta students and developed a Memorandum of Relational Understanding with Treaty 8 First Nations. She recently completed certification in Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (UBC, 2024).
Dr. Hopper’s proven ability to build collaborative relationships, foster academic excellence and advance equity and Indigenous initiatives have made her an excellent choice to shape UVic’s new Faculty of Health. We look forward to seeing her strategic leadership in program development and fostering community partnerships as she steps into her new role at UVic in 2025.
